The guide to perfect listening

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THE GUIDE TO

PERFECT LISTENING

IMAGE: LINN

Eight pages of the ultimate hi-fi equipment, from speakers and high-end headphones, to high resolution audio players and internet radio players

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Linn’s stylish range of network music players will transform your listening experience

FREE 24-BIT ALBUM Download your free 24-bit Studio Master album from Linn’s catalogue of award-winning artists. To claim, enter promotion code MUSIC15 at the shopping cart.

AT HOME WITH STREAMING

www.linn.co.uk/ music-15

Add a Linn network music player to your current hi-fi system and you can experience the highest quality sound from all your favourite music and movies in the comfort of your living room

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andcrafted and engineered to the highest quality, Linn’s range of network music players will enrich your life by making everything you listen to sound better. A Linn network music player will transform the sound of your music collection, whether you’re playing LPs on a turntable or listening to your favourite online music streaming services and movies. Compatible with the speakers you already own and love, every Linn network music player features Linn’s ground-breaking Space Optimisation technology – optimising performance for your speakers, their placement, and the unique characteristics of your room. So you can design your home the way you want to and still enjoy the true sound of the music.

KEY FEATURES ● Wireless streaming Stream any digital source, up to high-resolution 24-bit 192kHz files, and enjoy the benefits of lossless streaming services such as TIDAL and Qobuz.

● Linn’s built-in Space Optimisation technology

This allows you to optimise your music system for your room and speaker placement - no matter what speakers you own.

● Digital and analogue inputs Connect any source, from your Blu-ray player to your turntable and benefit from superb sound.

● Free software upgrades Enjoy new features, services and performance upgrades for free.

● Futureproof Linn’s network music players are built to the highest specifications and will last for years.

0800 001 5111 www.linn.co.uk/network-music-player

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CONCERT HALL SOUND ON A COMPUTER

Enjoy online music with the Henry Audio USB DAC 128 Mk II

Henry Audio’s USB DAC 128 Mk II brings audiophile sound quality to your computer

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ownloaded music has the potential to reproduce the exhilaration of a live concert in the comfort of your own home but a computer needs a little help to get you there.

A digital-to-analogue converter, or DAC, is all you need to get a vivid, colourful and faithful reproduction of the sound. Norwegian company Henry Audio brings you the internationally acclaimed USB DAC 128 Mk II, a handy little box of tricks that connects your amplifier and computer with no external power supply. To your ears, this may very well be the hi-fi upgrade of the year.

KEY FEATURES ● High quality parts Henry Audio uses a range of top components,

including a state-of-the-art AK4430 DAC and high-grade Golledge oscillators.

● Flexible USB hi-fi The DAC 128 Mk II is compatible with PC and

Mac computers and supports high-quality music files, up to 24-bit/192kHz.

● An open source design The USB DAC 128 Mk II is the result of a collaboration by online enthusiasts.

The Stream AMP streaming system opens up a whole world of high-quality listening

+47 90639918 henryaudio.com

SUPERIOR STREAMING Cabasse’s Stream AMP streaming system provides a wide selection of high-resolution playback options for a huge range of devices

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he Cabasse Stream AMP brings out the full scale and subtlety of music performances. Just add speakers and connect it to your home network and you’ve got a complete music system that will give you access to all of your favourite recordings in the highest quality, right at your fingertips. With the Cabasse App for iOS and Android, you can easily select the music you want from your network, whether it’s from a home computer, wirelessly streamed from Spotify or TIDAL or via Bluetooth from a smartphone or tablet .

You also have access to thousands of internet radio stations.

KEY FEATURES ● Wireless music streaming Connect a pair of speakers and plug

the Stream AMP into your network and access all the music you could want.

● Access to online music As well as online music streaming services, like Tidal and Spotify, a huge quantity of internet radio stations is available.

01242 511133 cabasse-uk.com

● Wide range of formats The Stream AMP can play high-resolution music in just about any file format, including 24-bit/96kHz WAV and FLAC files, plus Apple’s lossless ALAC and MP3.

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The Audeze EL-8 headphones provide best-in-class quality

BRINGING YOU CLOSER TO THE MUSIC The American headphone specialist Audeze has combined truly revolutionary acoustic engineering with beautiful craftsmanship to provide the finest listening experience available

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he best-in-class accuracy of Audeze headphones makes them essential for anyone requiring the most transparent audio reproduction. The US specialist’s headphones boast cuttingedge planar magnetic technology which gives greater frequency response – extending the high-end and lowering distortion levels – plus a better overall sound quality than traditional headphones. The range now includes the new EL-8 headphones and the Deckard amplifier/digital to analogue converter (DAC), a perfect way to enhance the performance of any brand of headphone.

Audeze’s Deckard amp will enhance the performance of your headphones

KEY FEATURES ● Flexible use These comfortable over-ear designs are available in both closed-back (ideal for music on the move) and open-back (perfect for traditional home hi-fi) models.

● Pioneering technology The new Audeze EL-8 headphones use the

world’s most advanced planar magnetic technology, with a sound quality that’s unheard of in this price category.

● Impressive amp/DAC If you want to hear more from any

headphones, you can drive them with Audeze’s Deckard, a powerhouse headphone amp combined with a high-performance DAC.

● Superb sound The Audeze’s Deckard’s sound is exciting and dynamic with beautifully rendered tonal colours that make music come alive.

01767 448121 highendheadphones.co.uk

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE The entry-level Astell&Kern AK Jr; (right) the dual-DAC AK120II in its desktop cradle

ASTELL&KERN MAKES A DIFFERENCE If you enjoy listening to music on the move but are finding your smartphone’s sound unsatisfactory, Astell&Kern’s high-resolution portable players are the ideal solution

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o get the very best from your listening experience, you will need a better player than a smartphone. Astell&Kern’s award-winning range of portables will transform your musical enjoyment, wherever you like to listen. From studio master-quality 24bit downloads to nearly every music format there is, Astell&Kern’s exquisitely designed players will impress. All beautifully styled with aluminium /duralumin, they also work as excellent USB DACs (digital to analogue converters), plus there’s a range of stylish accessories, including bespoke cases and docking cradles.

The flagship AK380 model boasts unbeatable sound quality and a luxury finish

KEY FEATURES ● Easy to carry Weighing 93g and measuring 6.9mm at its thinnest point, the AK Junior is the ideal go-anywhere high-resolution player. It has a 24bit/192kHz Wolfson DAC with 64GB of expandable storage

● Format friendly The AK120 II is a dual-channel DAC design with a Cirrus Logic DAC dedicated to each channel. Offering Wi-Fi streaming, it supports most formats and has 128GB of expandable storage.

● Superior performance The AK380 sets new standards in

high-definition portable music. Its dual 32-bit DACs and potential for 384GB-plus of storage make this an ultimate player.

● Critical appeal Astell&Kern has won widespread praise. The Telegraph says: ‘This company single-handedly taught the world that there is life beyond the iPod and iPhone for music on the go.’

● Distinctive styling Astell&Kern players are crafted from

metal, including aluminium and duralumin, with premium accent materials including carbon fibre.

+44 (0)20 8942 9124 custom-cable.co.uk

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AKG’s stylish wireless headphones

AKG Y50BT BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES AKG is adding to its impressive track record of award-winning sound and stylish design by launching the Y50BT headphones

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KG’s Y50BT on-ear headphones score highly for style while allowing you to listen without wires. These ‘BT’ Bluetoothenabled headphones offer a seamless connection and an internal battery capable of more than 20 hours of music playback.

The Y50BT headphones also feature AKG’s legendary 40mm speakers that produce a balanced and powerful sound. This audio excellence is matched by an elegant design – available in three bold colours, with a surface specially coated with a hybrid matt/gloss finish, the AKG Y50BTs are available in a choice of blue, black and silver.

KEY FEATURES ● Legendary AKG sound A clear, world-class and award-winning

acoustic sound that will help take your musical enjoyment and appreciation to new levels.

● Bluetooth enabled for music Pursue your passions wirelessly and easily, with ear-cup mounted controls.

● Long-lasting The AKG Y50BTs charge via micro USB and there’s

the option of using them with a supplied 3.5mm bypass cable if you exceed the 20 hours of battery life.

● Take phone calls You can answer phone calls easily by using the AKG’s wireless headphones mean an end to annoying tangles.

mounted controls.

● Easy listening The AKG Y50BTs are built for comfort, and the ear-cups swivel flat and fold inwards to fit easily in a coat pocket.

01707 278113 akg.com

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The JBL Xtreme is great outdoors, with its weatherproof build and long-lasting battery life

SPLASHPROOF BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS JBL introduces the ultimate range of water-resistant portable Bluetooth speakers, combining a wide-range of features with stunning audio performance

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f you like listening to music whatever the weather, JBL’s range of three portable Bluetooth speakers is the answer. The JBL Flip 3 is an ultra-compact portable speaker that delivers powerful, room-filling stereo sound while also coping well with outdoor life. The JBL’s Pulse 2 combines these qualities with sensational sound and an interactive LED light show, adding a colourful display to your listening. And the JBL Xtreme is a top-of-the-range portable Bluetooth speaker that produces earthshaking, stereo sound. It has a rechargeable battery and dual USB charge, keeping your music going as long as you need.

KEY FEATURES ● Long lasting Powered by rechargeable batteries, the JBL Flip 3 and Pulse 2 offer ten hours of continuous play, while the JBL Xtreme can go for 15 hours.

● Light display Transform your party with a light show, thanks to the multi-coloured LEDs on the JBL Pulse 2.

● Good indoors or out JBL’s Bluetooth speaker range can be

used wherever you are – from tabletop to poolside, from sunny mornings to rainy nights.

● Weatherproof The stylishly designed speaker range is extremely The Flip 3, delivering powerful, room-filling stereo

Set the mood with JBL Pulse 2’s interactive LED display

durable and incorporates splashproof fabric material.

● Noise-cancelling speakerphone The JBL Xtreme offers a noise-cancelling option and an echo-cancelling speakerphone for conference calls.

+44 (0)1707 278113 jbl.com

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SMALL TECHNOLOGY, BEAUTIFUL SOUND

The stunning Olive ONE

The Olive ONE from Midland Hi-Fi is a multiroom high-definition music player that combines miniature technology with terrific sound

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any people are adopting a minimalist approach to their homes, searching for high-fidelity products with a small footprint. Midland Hi-Fi’s Olive ONE is a multi-room HD music player that fits the bill. It’s a true masterpiece of miniaturisation, offering an amazing array of facilities.

The gorgeous unit, with its large touchscreen, has a hard-drive capable of storing the equivalent of around 3,000 CDs in bit-perfect quality. Bluetooth connectivity enables you to play music from a phone or tablet, as well as access thousands of internet radio stations.

KEY FEATURES ● Amazing sound Featuring a 32-bit/384kHz DAC by Burr-Brown and

dual high-definition amplifiers, the Olive ONE delivers music in superb quality.

● Convenient access to all your music Stream music from your smartphone, via Bluetooth, or to play music from your Mac or PC, or via a home network connection such as Wi-Fi.

● Multi-room music Add an Olive ONE to each room and you can play music all over your home.

The NOVAFiDELITY X12 is an impressive do-it-all music server

+44 (0)1902 380 083 www.midlandhifistudio.co.uk

A LITTLE BOX WITH A BIG PERSONALITY A HD hi-fi music server with database, CD ripper, DAC, 60W amplifier and network streamer – all your hi-fi needs in one box

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he NOVAFiDELITY X12 is an exceptional box of tricks. It stores all your music in one place and will link to your existing system or work as a stand-alone device. The wide range of music formats it supports include high-definition 24-bit/192kHz WAV and FLAC files and Apple’s own lossless audio codec (ALAC).

The X12 enables you can bring all your old music collections back to life by transferring your CDs, vinyls and cassettes. It has a 4.3-inch colour screen and includes a internet radio, with Spotify Connect for music streaming. The X12 is perfect for smaller spaces and is easy to use.

KEY FEATURES ● High-definition playback The X12 supports 24-bit/192kHz high-definition audio and a wide variety of file formats.

+44 (0)1732 765105 www.sygnifi.co.uk

● CD ripping Transfer your entire CD collection to the NOVAFiDELITY X12, including all the cover artwork.

● Streaming The NOVAFiDELITY X12 has an in-built high-quality music streaming internet radio with access to thousands of stations.

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The Ruark R4 Mk3, which comes in a range of colours and finishes

RUARK AUDIO R4 GETS A MAKEOVER Ruark Audio has revamped its class-leading R4 music system from the ground up, adding Bluetooth, making the R4 Mk3 the perfect music solution for 21st-century living

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he new R4 Mk3 looks reassuringly familiar but has been re-engineered throughout, making it better than ever. With its combination of stunning sound and design, the R4 Mk3 is an ‘all-in-one’ system that builds on the brand’s high reputation, adding Bluetooth for streaming music and an improved multi-format CD player.

Simply plug it in and the R4 Mk3 will provide room-filling sound to satisfy the most discerning listener. It’s also ideal for technophobes, thanks to its simple RotoDial controller. The R4 Mk3 is available in a choice of stylish finishes, including white, black and walnut veneer.

KEY FEATURES ● Wireless music streaming Stream all your music from a

compatible Bluetooth device using the R4’s built-in aptX Bluetooth receiver.

● Built in DAB/DAB+ and FM tuners Listen to your favourite radio stations in beautiful large-scale sound.

● Enhanced multi-format CD player The R4 Mk3 features a slot-loading CD player which supports CD-Audio, MP3, AAC and WMA.

● Analogue and digital connections You can link up a turntable via the audio inputs or use the digital connection for a TV.

● Easy on the eye The organic light-emitting diode (OLED) Ruark Audio’s R4 Mk3 IMS (Integrated Music System)

display enables programme information to be clearly seen, whatever your viewing angle.

+44 (0)1702 601410 ruarkaudio.com